• by Emily Burg , January 24, 2007

Intel Corp. yesterday unveiled the Intel Next-Gen Wireless-N network connection, which it claims offers five times the speed of its current Centrino Duo mobile wireless technology.

Inspired by a growing demand for broadband content, the new wireless N technology also offers twice the wireless range of current connectivity, improves the home network experience, and improves laptop battery life, Dave Hofer, director of wireless marketing for Intel's Mobile Platforms Group, said yesterday.

Intel will market the new technology by launching a "Connect with Centrino" program in partnership with leading manufacturers of wireless routers, including Asus, Belkin, Buffalo, D-Link and Netgear. Their packaging will display a "Connect with Centrino" label to indicate compatibility with the new processors. Intel also will work to provide "quite a bit of retail education," explained Hofer, "to simply describe to the end user what connect with Centrino means."

Intel's new wireless N technology will be shipped with computers powered by Intel Centrino Duo mobile technology from manufacturers including Gateway and Toshiba that are distributed with Microsoft Windows Vista beginning Jan. 30.